A/N I do not own these characters. If I did Jolie fanfic would be unnecessary because they would have good s/l's on the show. However since the Hack is head writer and can't write to save her life fanfic is necessary; hence this story.

Chapter 23

Vicki knew that Bo wouldn't approve of what she was doing heck she knew no one would approve but she needed to do something. Natalie might be an unknown person to her but she was her daughter and she wanted to get to know her with out having to visit the jail once a week. She had the address and she had a name anything else she needed be it money or simply talking to the other woman she would get or do.

Driving out of Llanview with a sense of purpose Vicki decided to call Bo and tell him where she was. Not that she harbored any romantic feelings for him but he was Natalie's father and he should know she was going to talk to Gloria. Dialing his number and putting him on the speakerphone she told him where she was and what she was doing. As she paused Bo told her about John, "Good lord!" she said when he told her that John was on his way to the hospital. This made her even more determined to convince Gloria to come in. Telling Bo she would call back soon she hung up and prayed she would be able to help her daughter.

Natalie heard the commotion upstairs and strained to hear what was going on. Something had happened, something bad. Hoping it wasn't someone she knew or a member of her newfound family she waited, hoping someone would come and tell her what was going on. Finally after about 10 minutes someone came around the corner.

"Jessica?" Natalie said confused. "What are you doing here?"

Jessica had come the minute she had heard about John. She didn't know Natalie at all yet but they had all felt the news about John should come from her. She wasn't sure she wanted to start out her relationship with her twin this way but someone had to tell her and Bo had gone with John to the hospital and Vicki was going to find some one to help Natalie according to Bo.

"Natalie, there is something I need to tell you." Jessica started to say and she watched Natalie's face harden as though preparing for a physical blow. It was as if somehow she knew what was coming. Nodding at an officer to unlock the bars Jess stepped inside the cell and took Natalie's hands, "It's John."

"What?" Natalie began feeling her chest tighten and spasm. 'Not John!' Her mind screamed, 'Not her husband!' "What about John?" she finally got out.

Seeing the pain her sister was in Jess was shocked that she also felt it. She could feel Natalie's pain, like an echo of her anguish it communicated itself to her and she was forced to take a deep breath, "He was hit by a car Natalie. He's on his way to the hospital right now."

Natalie had never felt such fear and grief in her life, wrenching her hands away from Jessica's she spun around with a broken, "No!" Her heart felt like it would split in two. Looking back to Jessica she asked softly in a tortured voice, "How bad is he? Will he be ok?"

Feeling terrible she didn't have more answers for her sister Jess simply shook her head and said, "I don't know. They haven't called to tell us anything."

Natalie broke down then, crying into her hands she felt Jessica put her arms around her, comforting her. This only made her cry harder. Feeling worse then she had ever felt before she finally realized that she was in love with John. Nothing else could hurt this much. She finally realized that she was capable of loving someone totally and completely and it was too late. He might die before she ever got a chance to tell him.

Two hours later Natalie had calmed down somewhat. She was still afraid that John was seriously hurt but Jess had helped her see that it wouldn't help her or John if she remained in the cell. He lawyer had arrived and after hearing the FBI's case against her and her side of the story he had advised her to tell them what happened. So finally breaking down she told the FBI guys what happened in the liquor store. They hadn't believed her of course but she felt better now that she told the truth. And If Bo had done as she asked Gloria could clear her name. That was if she came forward.

Kevin, Joey, Mathew, and Asa had also come down to the cell joining Jessica and the six of them had gotten to know each other a little bit, or as much as they could considering she was still freaking out and worried about John, as the lawyer had started making calls trying to get her out of jail. They had a bail hearing in the morning but that didn't help her right now when the only place she wanted to be was at John's side.

After the initial shock of realizing she loved John she had embraced the knowledge with all her heart and soul. Finding that person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with was hard but she had already found that person was married to him in fact. Her goal now was to convince him to give them a chance. Not at a marriage based on fondness or friendship but one on love. The first thing she had to do was tell him that she loved him and hope he didn't just stare at her in disgust.

So lost in thought was she that she barely noticed her family leaving and her lawyer entering. "Mrs. McBain?" Hearing her name she looked up and was startled to see everyone gone and Mr. Stanley standing there. "Yes?"

"You are free, I wanted to tell you in person. Gloria came forward and corroborated your story and they had no choice but to rule Victors death an accidental shooting." Morgan Stanley told his redheaded client. Seeing the joy the spread across her face he was satisfied that he had done a good thing. Natalie McBain was a good woman and she didn't deserve to be railroaded like the FBI had been trying to do. He also knew that they hated to lose and would be looking for ways to get Natalie because they truly felt that she was a criminal and deserved to be behind bars.

"Really?" Natalie asked shocked, "But how...?"

"Your mother."

"Roxy?" Natalie said confused, she still wasn't used to having two mothers.

"No, Victoria Davidson," said Mr. Stanley gently seeing her confused expression.

"Oh..." Natalie said still trying to take it all in. "You mean I'm free. I can leave here and not worry about getting arrested?"

"That's exactly what I mean."

"Ohhh thank you!" Natalie exclaimed and then seeing Vicki standing outside the open cell door and ran to her and hugged her tightly. "Thank you!" After a long moment of hugging Natalie suddenly remembered something, "John! I have to go to him! How is he?" Vicki nodded and said, "I don't know yet they won't tell me anything because I'm not immediate family. I'll drive you to the hospital." Vicki told her after seeing how upset Natalie looked.

Natalie rushed into the hospital and promptly collided with someone. Righting herself just in time she looked up and saw Michael McBain, Her brother-in-law. "How is he Michael?" Natalie asked.

Michael saw Natalie and knew exactly who she was talking about. He had seen Bo and he had filled him in on his brother's sudden marriage. Knowing Johns feelings for Natalie and Natalie's obvious feelings for John Michael was all that surprised that they had gotten married. What surprised him was the timing and the fact that John had quit his job for Natalie.

He never would have thought that his by the book brother would spit in the face of the rules that he had lived most of his life by and marry Natalie while she was under arrest for murder. This thought brought the question, "How are you here? I thought the bail hearing was for tomorrow?"

"What? Oh, I was released. The FBI declared it an accidental shooting. Now where is John, is he ok?" Natalie demanded again, now more worried then ever as it seemed like Michael was avoiding the question.

"John is in room 289. He'll be fine. He just had a slight concussion and some bruising. He'll be sore for a few weeks but he'll be ok. He is asleep now. I gave him a powerful painkiller, that should keep him out for hours yet." Michael told her. When John had come in he had been unconscious and Michael about had a heart attack himself. After checking John over thoroughly and hearing from Bo what happened he decided that John was a very lucky man indeed. He had woken briefly asking for Natalie but he had been in pain so Michael had given him a painkiller that was potent enough to knock him out.

Natalie sagged against the wall in relief; he was going to be ok. "Oh, Thank God!" she said under her breath then looked at Michael again, "Can I see him?"

Michael nodded and went with her to John's room, "My brother is one lucky man. He could have been seriously injured or killed." He paused a second and just as Natalie was about to go in he said, "Welcome to the family."

"You know?"

Michael nodded, "Bo told me. I'm happy for both of you, but especially for John. I have never seen him like he is with you. He just seems lighter, happier. He really loves you a lot."

"I hope so," Natalie muttered praying that Michael was right because as soon as John woke up she was going to pour her heart out to him.

"What?" Michael asked, not hearing what she said.

"I said I love him too," Natalie lied. She wasn't about to tell her husband's brother that she wasn't sure about John's love; that they had married to keep her out of jail. She pushed open the door and walked into the room. Pulling a chair close to the bed, she sat down, took his hand in hers and waited for him to wake up.

To be continued...